Liz O'Brien

VISUAL ARTIST

Liz O’Brien is a visual artist who creates intimate, confessional works exploring issues of gender, identity, psychological processes and connection to the natural world in contemporary societies.

Working with a major focus in analogue photographic processes including the use of various film types, darkroom processing and printing, photographic emulsions and instant film, Liz also works in studio drawing practices with a variety of mediums as well as mixed media installations

For Liz, ’Into The Void’ represents the disconnection between individuals, communities and the natural world. Her installation calls audiences to reflect on their relationships with the environment and to consider the respect and reverence they show - or lack - towards the natural world.

There is a void in contemporary societies where our empathy for and understanding of the importance of a sustainable environment should be.

O’Brien, who became a resident of The Factory in 2019, admits ‘there was a rather large question mark’ on how she would continue her darkroom photography practice upon graduating from Newcastle Art School. With the construction of a darkroom in her studio space, “(The Factory) has allowed me to continue without any constraints on my craft”.

‘Having a private studio in a building shared with other creatives working in different practices has also been really motivating to keep new works rolling out, it’s great to have others to bump into for a chat and to bounce ideas off and gain new insights into works and problem solving.”

Read Liz’s profile in The Factory’s own magazine, The Conveyor Issue #001.

lizobrien.net

@goddamnit_liz